HOPPING CRICKETS: INDEPENDENCE ARENA MAY GET A NEW NAME

          Independence Arena in Charlotte, the home of the ECHL
     Checkers, "could be getting a new name," according to Justin
     Goldsborough of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.  The BOD that
     oversees the arena endorsed a proposal yesterday for San
     Diego-based wireless phone company Cricket Communications to
     "purchase the naming rights" of the building for $150,000 a
     year over the next five years with a renewal option. 
     Cricket, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Leap Wireless,
     plans to begin offering wireless phone service in Charlotte
     in the "next month or two."  The Charlotte City Council will
     hear the proposal October 23 and "must approve it" for the
     deal to be finalized (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/12).